Canes Hope To Gain Some Physicality With Newcomers
by Bob Wage on Jul 5, 2011 2:50 PM EDT
in Carolina Hurricanes Analysis
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PrintWill the Carolina Hurricanes be able to replace Erik Cole's production with their recent additions? It won't be easy because not only did Cole take last season's total of 26 goals with him to Montreal, perhaps just as important, he took his total of 225 hits with him as well.
While it might be tougher to replace those goals, it appears that the Canes have taken proper steps to replace the hit totals.
Newcomer Alexei Ponikarovsky had 139 hits in just 61 games last season and Anthony Stewart chipped in with 98 hits for Atlanta.
While there will be constant discussion about exactly where certain players will fit within the top nine spots, both of those players will most likely start out somewhere in the top nine.
When comparing to last season's lineup, one player will take's Cole's spot (in the top nine, not necessarily the top three) and the other will take Stillman/Samsonov's spot, neither of whom known for their physicality.
Does it end up as a wash? Let's take a closer look.
Cole averaged 2.74 hits per game last season, (his career high), while Ponikarovsky averaged 2.27 hits and Stewart averaged 1.23.
While with Carolina, Samsonov and Stillman combined for 58 hits which was good for a .73 average per game. Add that to Cole's average and you get a total of 3.47 hits per game. Add together Ponikarovsky's and Stewart's and you get 3.50.
Obviously, that's not much of a difference except that both Ponikarovsky and Stewart have bigger bodies and perhaps their hits are of more consequence, especially when comparing with Cory Stillman or Sergei Samsonov.
Add in a consistent Tim Brent at 104 hits on the fourth line, and the Canes might be more physical this coming season than they were last.
You can't discuss team physicality or hit totals without mentioning Tuomo Ruutu and his amazing 309 hits, (3.77 per game average), which was the 2nd best total in the NHL last year. Of course, Ruutu will be back.
If the Hurricanes are able to be more physical next season, will that equate to more wins? Stay tuned.
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Adding Zenon
If “the Hurricanes are able to be more physical next season”, they need Zenon Konopka to complement what is indeed a bigger lineup. Someone who represents a legitimate deterrent to guys who might go after Staal, Skinner or Sutter….He also has a faceoff wins % of 57.7 which is the direction of Canes management re: signing Brent. How much will Zenon cost, and is the possible reason for not reaching out to him a multi-year contract? I think it’s about time that the club gets bigger and meaner, and for other teams to really, really worry about playing the Canes.
It’s going to be interesting to see where they play these 2, obviously that will fluctuate with how PM moves his lines around, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Stewart-Poni-Staal, in theory should be a tough line to play against, will those 2 make badly needed room for Staal or will they be chasing the puck all night against some of more 1st lines in the NHL. I’m more interested to see how Murphy does in camp, it’s a long-shot, but if I’m McBain I’m coming to camp ready.
Adding Physicality
The addition of Ponikarovsky and Stewart brings a much needed physical dimension. Brent also adds physicality. As great a year as Cole had in 2010-2011, a good deal of credit goes to Cole’s linemates.
Dalpe should bring offensive productivity to any line. Both Ponikarovsky and Stewart can score goals. Boychuk and Bowman are talented offensively. Change is often difficult, but unavoidable. I am pleased with the new players and the style of play their arrival will generate.
i don’t think of poni as overtly physical, although stewart has shown that side. brent may not stick up here, but we’ll see. i don’t think our defense overall plays very physical, would love to see that improved with a trade or two…
"We've got to look at this," Columbus general manager Scott Howson said Monday after exit interviews with the players. "Because whatever we have right now isn't working."
by Sergeant Stinky on Jul 5, 2011 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Poni and Stewart bring more hits per game combined than Cole. It’s difficult to replace that kind of production from one guy. Having Poni and Stewart allows those hits to be distributed through more of the game, rather than one shift. Put these guys out there at different times, along with Rutuu’s hits and it won’t give the other team as much of a chance to rest. If Harrison continues to improve, and Gleason returns to form, this team could be better than expected. I’d still like to a trade for another D or top-six, but we’ll wait and see…
The only easy day was yesterday.
I like “abramsdoug’s” response above. Folks, we have not made the playoffs for two years in a row with what we had. JR has made many moves to try to improve the team. Abramsdoug seems to be saying let’s wait and see and expresses some optimism.
Re: CoastalCane’s comment, I agree. The only thing I would ask if you are not satisfied with where we stand it does no good to say “we should trade to get someone”. If you have this idea to be discussed you should name who specifically we would trade to get specifically which player(s). Most of us don’t have the slightest idea of what players are available to acquire by trade and no idea if we have assets that another team would accept in return. All I ever see is we should bundle either Boychuk or LaRose with one of the defensemen that our own fans claim isn’t worth having and expect some other team to trade us one of their top line forwards or 1st pairing defensemen. Who really believes that can happen?
To me the way the Canes are going to make strides and improve is through excellent drafting and developing those picks. We have done this drafting stars or high quality NHS players on our team. For example Staal, Skinner, Sutter, Cole, McBain, Dwyer, LaRose, Dalphe (hopefully). We have several other young forwards waiting in the wings (Boychek, Bowman, Samson, Nash, etc.) and several young defensemen (Faulk, Doumolin, Murphey, Sanguenetti, etc.).
by FoxtrotSierra on Jul 5, 2011 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Aren’t we still almost 20MM under the salary cap? Why are we applauding these “Safe”, low cost signings. I thought the Brent pick up was good, but I certainly didn’t think it would be followed up with the signing of two more “safe”, low cost signings. Our defense sucked last year and an attempt was made near the end of the year to fix it. It got marginally better, but we still struggled to score. The solution: Keep the same defense in place, sign a bunch of bottom six, single digit goal scorers for next to nothing, and resign most of the players that led to the mediocre goal totals from last year. Oh yea, and let one of the more prolific scorers sign with a conference rival. I thought last year was our year to suffer with a minimum payroll while PK made some of his money back. I was never informed that it was going to be a reoccurring theme. Maybe next year…………
Satan is just a coping mechanism for monotheists.
When you add Joslin and Sutter they are right above the floor ($16mil below the Cap or $48.3mil) with 13 F, 7 D and 2 G. (Includes Dalpe and Boychuk, not Samson or Bowman). The Budget we’ve heard is a couple $million above the floor. Rutherford says he would look for another top 6 Forward at a budget around $3-$3.5mil to acquire by trade if need be. If that happens then likely Dalpe or Boychuk would return to Charlotte.
Just relaying what I know. Not an argument.
Twitter @HMof2
by Carolyn Christians on Jul 5, 2011 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow! Didn’t see that one coming. Thought we’d go after a shutdown D, not another offensive minded one. Not sure how I feel about this…. first reaction is not good.
Exactly what I’m thinking. He’s not a top 2 defenseman and he isn’t even that good on the defensive side of things.
I know a lot of you guys know a lot more about the game than I do. But I’m thrilled about this. I’ve wanted to get him since he was talking about leaving the Leafs a couple years ago. Didn’t think it would happen. I’m still waiting for a trade.
The only easy day was yesterday.
Put me with Sittler
Head scratcher…He was MIA during the playofs for Boston. He certainly didn’t help their power play prior to the finals—it was abysmal. He’s got decent size but doesn’t use it. I think i would have prefered Corvo…
…and Joe took a discount to stay and play here, and we toos him for it. And at three years for Kaberle at his age??
Bob will have a new post up shortly. Out of left field. Takes a while doesn’t it. Hope he doesn’t have a NTC.
Twitter @HMof2
by Carolyn Christians on Jul 5, 2011 4:21 PM EDT reply actions
I watched Boychuk carefully during Checkers playoff games against Binghamton which has an NHL type D. He couldn’t penetrate was skated to the corners or put down. Honestly, I don’t think he will ever by much of an NHL level player.
Dalpe, Boychuk, and Bowman
According to Jim Rutherford in his comments today, Dalpe, Boychuk, and Bowman will all get consideration and chances in the top nine and possibly on Staal’s line. Skinner is likely to start on the first line. If Dalpe can weather the physical grind of facing the top two defensemen each night, Skinner/Staal/Dalpe could be a very effective line.
Jim Rutherford had good things to say about Dalpe, Boychuk, and Bowman. It’s the same impression I get from other comments made throughout the year by various coaches when interviewed. The coaches like all three young prospects. At this point, all three are works in progress. My own assessment is that Dalpe is the real deal and will make a huge jump this season. I have much higher hopes and expectations for Boychuk than you; but the proof will come on the ice for all three players. If Jim Rutherford and the organization were convinced Boychuk was a bust, he would already have been packaged and moved on to another team. Bowman has all the tools, but he has to figure out how to put pucks in the net. The Hurricanes have the luxury of time. They now have enough big forwards to mix and match lines. They don’t have to rush anybody.
Trade
For JR to make that signing, he has to have a deal already in the works for one of our defensemen. Maybe Corvo? I’d like to think it means Joni’s affordable contract enticed another team but I doubt that’s what’s in the works.
Corvo or McBain…We have too many puck moving defensemen.
by Patrick Clarke on Jul 5, 2011 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions
THis is a powerplay signing
our powerplay was horrific. T. Kaberle will shoot the puck.
Mike Milbury is a douche.
He didn’t do much for Boston’s PP in the playoffs. In fact overall he looked very ordinary throughout the playoffs. Seids way outplayed him.
The thing about Corvo is he’s working so cheap that’s a value you can’t ignore. And he’s the oldest and most fit man in the room. And he came back to Carolina at a discount so he could be in Raleigh. A trade would be a brutal stab in the back by Rutherford – not his style.
Twitter @HMof2
by Carolyn Christians on Jul 5, 2011 4:25 PM EDT reply actions
So we’ve ruled out Joni because we just resigned him. Corvo would be seen as a stab in the back. I can’t imagine we’d move McBain as he’s still a very solid young prospect. Who then?
JR
Is this Rutherford’s first mistake of the year?
Is this fall-out from Cole not resigning? Joe and Erik were buds…
by Patrick Clarke on Jul 5, 2011 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I hadn’t picked up my jaw the first time.
Twitter @HMof2
by Carolyn Christians on Jul 5, 2011 4:30 PM EDT reply actions
OK - if any of you doubted who was the jerk
in the negotiations, it should have just become clear that it wasn’t Erik Cole.
Mike Milbury is a douche.
So basically we flip offensive minded D-men. To me Kaberle is a bit of an upgrade to Corvo. We add dollars to the Cap but we also get a 4th round pick. Actually we may have come out a bit ahead here. But it also shows what a business this…. no reward for Joe taking a discount to come back here last year. Maybe people will better get why Cole did what he did.
Corvo asked softly to be traded
Corvo requested the trade. It does not support the idea that
the Canes took advantage of Corvo. I imagine Corvo saw the writing on the wall with Faulk and Murphy.
Meh
not bummed about losing corvo, not enthused about picking-up kaberle.
that said, totally psyched JR seems to at least give a crap about improving the team, especially the defense. I wonder if a new voice on the bench on the defensive side of things had anything to do with this move?
"We've got to look at this," Columbus general manager Scott Howson said Monday after exit interviews with the players. "Because whatever we have right now isn't working."
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